Taking A Closer Look At NYC’s Water Supply

If you’ve ever wondered about where the water coming out of your faucet originates, The New York Times recently posted a cool video about the history of our area’s water infrastructure and the three-month journey from our reservoirs upstate to the tap. It’s a pretty neat look at something we use daily–in fact, New Yorkers use an average of 60-70 gallons per person, per day.

Most of us have already heard to turn off the water when brushing our teeth, or to avoid long showers–but some other simple tips you might not be familiar with are available here.

While something like installing high efficiency toilets might not be a feasible option for you or your landlord right now, there are simpler fixes to be made, including aerator installation on your faucets and shower heads (which conserve water without a loss of pressure), or asking for a hydrant spray cap at your local fire house for fun during the summer months that’s about 40-50 times more eco-friendly than simply opening a hydrant yourself.

Go ahead, drink your eight glasses a day–just enjoy the resources we’ve got responsibly, because it takes a lot of time and effort to get them here!